Sliding clasp fastener stringers

ABSTRACT

A slide fastener stringer comprises a knitted tape and a series of coupling elements secured thereto during knitting.

United States Patent Austin et al. [4 1 Mar. 28, 1972 54] SLIDING CLASPFASTENER STRINGERS v [56] References Cited [72] inventors: Christophe rFrederic Austin, Sutton Cold- UNITED STATES PATENTS field; PhilipSimpson Crowther, Sutton coldfield; David warren Sutton Cold 1,841,1651/1932 Vorck et al ..66/84 field; David Birmingham FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS England 661,298 4 1963 C d ..66 8 [73] Assignee: LightningFasteners Limited, Birmingham, am a 6 England Primary ExaminerRonaldFeldbaum [22] Filed; June 29 97 Att0rneyCushman, Darby & Cushman 2'11Appl. No.: 50,755 57 ABSTRACT A slide fastener stringer comprises aknitted tape and a series [52] 1.5. CI ..66/86 of coupling elementssecured-thereto during knitting [51] Int. Cl. ..D04b 23/00 1 [58] Fieldof Search ..66/86, 84 9 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEUMARZs I9723,651,666

sum 2 UF 4 anm 44% 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates tosliding clasp fastener stringers and to methods and machines for theirmanufacture.

2. Description of the Prior Art A sliding clasp fastener comprises twostringers, each stringer comprising a series of coupling elementssecured to a carrier tape. It is now well-known to provide a series ofinterconnected coupling elements formed from a length of plasticsfilament which is either wound into a coil shape, or formed into ameander configuration which is folded along its centerline into U-shape.A fastener having a coil-shape element construction will be referred tohereinafter as coil fastener con-' struction," and one having U-shapedelements-will be referred to hereinafter as meander fastenerconstruction." Other forms of interconnected coupling elements have beenproposed wherein the elements are produced by notching a tube ofplastics material, or by moulding a series of elements havinginterconnecting portions formed integrally with the elements.

Hitherto, a series of coupling elements and its associated carrier tapeof woven construction have usually been manufactured separately and thenthe series has been secured to the tape in a subsequent sewingoperation.

Objects of the present invention are to reduce the number of operationsrequired to manufacture a fastener stringer and to provide a tapeconstruction which is more economic than that produced by weavingtechniques.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a method ofmaking a sliding clasp fastener stringer comprises warp-knitting acarrier tape and, during the knitting, locating a series ofinterconnected coupling elements adjacent a longitudinal edge of thetape as it is knitted, and knitting at least one yarn in the tape duringknitting so that said at least one yarn passes at least partially aroundthe series and is interlinked with other yarns of the tape in thevicinity of the series thereby to secure the series to the tape.

The series of coupling elements may be of known coil or meander fastenerconstruction and each may comprise a cord or braid disposed between armsof the coupling elements and extending longitudinally of the series.

Coupling head portions of the coupling elements may be formed on thefilament either before or after knitting the series of elements into thetape.

The series of coupling elements may be conveniently guided to itsposition adjacent an edge of the tape being knitted through a tubularguide, and a knitting yarn passed at least partially around the guide sothat during casting off a portion of the yarn slips from the tube to aposition between two adjacent coupling elements of the series so as tosecure said elements to the tape.

The invention also provides a warp-knitting machine for making a slidingclasp fastener stringer, the machine having a knitting zone andcomprising a row of knitting needles for knitting a carrier tap of thestringer, a plurality of guide bars each carrying yarn guides, and atubular guide having a lower end disposed to guide a series ofinterconnected coupling elements to a predetermined position in theknitting zone adjacent one end of the row of needles with at least oneof the knitting needles being disposed on one side of the tubular guideand with the other needles on the other side when considered in thelapping direction, and at least one of the guide bars being disposed toswing and lap its yarn guides behind the tubular guide while at leastone other guide bar is disposed to lap at least one yarn guide in frontof the tubular guide and across needles disposed on each side of thetubular guide and to swing the yarn guide past the lower end of thetubular guide on each side thereof.

In one form of the invention, the tubular guide is operably connected toa guide bar mechanism of the machine whereby the tubular guide is causedto move in a swinging direction about a position beyond the lower end ofthe tubular guide and between knitting needles of the machine insynchronism with swinging movements of the yarn guides.

Conveniently the tubular guide is pivotally connected to a yam guide ofthe machine.

In another form of the invention the tubular guide is supported in afixed position relative to the plane of movement of the knitting needlesand the guide bar of the at least one yarn guide is operable to move theyarn guide 'on a swinging and lapping motion around needles disposed oneach side of the tubular guide while moving the yarn guide around thetubular guide.

The series of coupling elements may be knitted in with coupling headportions of the coupling elements aligned along an outer longitudinaledge of the stringer so that the head portions face away from theknitted tape. Alternatively, the coupling head portions may face in adirection towards the knitted tape so that when the tape of the stringeris folded back upon itself, there is provided a stringer for a concealedelement type fastener, i.e., when a right-hand and a left-hand stringerare assembled together, the coupling elements of the fastener areconcealed from view on one side of the fastener.

The invention also includes a stringer for a sliding clasp fastener whenmade by a method or with a machine as defined above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Tow embodiments of the invention willnow be described by way of example only and with reference to theaccompanying drawings of which FIGS. 1 to 10 relate to a firstembodiment and FIG. 1 1 relates to a second embodiment, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of parts of a warp-knitting machineconsidered in end elevation;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are an end elevation and schematic plan view respectivelyof knitting machine parts at one stage of a knitting cycle;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 at another stage of theknitting cycle;

FIGS. 6 to 10 are views similar to FIGS. 3 and 5 of further progressivestages in the knitting cycle, and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of parts of a warp-knitting machineaccording to the second embodiment.

7 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. I a fiveguide bar warp-knitting machine is used in the first embodiment formaking a sliding clasp fastener stringer and the machine parts arerepresented as folabout its axis 17 by a crank 18 and connecting rod 19.This oscillating motion of the shaft 16 and thus of the bracket 15effects swinging movements of the yarn guides 12 about axis 17. Yarns 20are fed downwardly, in known manner for knitting machines, from spools(not shown) through the guides 12 toa tape 21 which is being knitted. Inthe present embodiment three series of yarn guides 12a, 12b and 12c areemployed to knit the basic fabric structure of the tape 21.

A series of coupling elements 22 in the form of a coil of plasticsfilament and which is provided with an internal cord 23 is feddownwardly through a tubular guide 24, for example, by a ratchetoperated toothed wheel (not shown). The tubular guide 24 is oftelescopic construction and comprises an upper, larger diameter tube andlower, smaller diameter tube 25, 26 respectively. The upper tube 25 hasa closed ended axially directed slot (not shown) to receive a projectionon the lower tube 26 to control the lowermost position of the lowertube.

The lower end of the tube 26 is located at a predetermined positionadjacent a longitudinal edge of the tape at the knitting zone andadjacent one end of the row of needles 1 1 so that one needle isdisposed on one side of the tubular guide and the remaining needles aredisposed at the other side when considered in the lapping direction.Means for imparting a movement to the tubular guide 24 in a swingingdirection is con veniently a guide bar through a yarn guide 12d to whichthe upper tube 24 is operably connected by a pivot 27 and a U- shapedlink 28. The tubular guide is thus enabled to move in an are about aposition near to but beyond the lower end of the lower tube 26. In thevicinity of the tubular guide 24 the disposition of the needles ll allowthe guide to pass between two needles during its oscillating motions.Also the conventional sinkers of the machine are removed which wouldotherwise lie in the path of the tubular guide.

The base fabric of the tape knitted by yarns passing through guides 12ato 120 is of any appropriate construction and the series of couplingelements 22 is lashed to the tape by a yarn 20e which passes throughguide 12e. The yarn 202 is fed from an independent letoff motion topermit the drawoff of a longer length of yarn compared with theremaining yarns 20.

Commencing at the arbitrary starting position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,the knitting needles 11 are in their raised position and the tubularguide 24 and yarn guide l2e are in their forward position of theneedles. From this position the tubular guide and yarn guide l2e moverearwardly between needles to positions indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5, theyarn guide 122 swinging past the lower end of the tubular guide. Thetelescopic arrangement of the tubular guide 24 compensates for thevarying distance between the pivot 27 and the lower end of the tube 26during its movement. At this stage, the tubular guide 24 remainsstationary and yarn guide 12e laps between the tubular guide and theneedles to a position shown in FIG. 6.

The tubular guide 24 and yarn guide 12e then move forwardly betweenneedles and in so doing the yarn 20s is looped around the tubular guideas well as around two needles as indicated in FIG. 7. At this stage, theneedles move downwardly and upwardly to knit one course, the yarn 20eslipping off the lower end of the tube 26 and between two convolutions,i.e., two coupling elements, of the coil so that the yarn lies partiallyaround the cord 23 and the filament of the series of elements underappropriate tension controlled by the independent letoff motion.

The tubular guide 24 and yarn guide 12a now move rearwardly to occupythe positions shown in FIG. 8 and then, while the tubular guide remainsstationary, the yarn guide laps between the tubular guide and theneedles to the position indicated in FIG. 9. From these positions, thetubular guide and yarn guide move forwardly between needles and in sodoing the yarn 202 is looped around the tubular guide as well as aroundtwo needles as indicated in FIG. 10. At this stage the needles movedownwardly and upwardly to knit another course and to slip a loop of theyarn 202 from the tube 26 to a position between two coupling elements ofthe series. The above movements of the yarn guide 122 are equivalent tothe notation -4/4-0.

While the above description has described the passage of the yarn a, theknitting of the basic fabric structure proceeds in known manner so that,for instance, at the positions shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the normal yarns20 of the tape 21 are lapped around the needles 1].

Since the needles 11 which knit the yarn 20s at each side of the seriesof elements 22 are also employed for knitting the base fabric structureof the tape, the series of elements thus becomes secured to the tape byvirtue of the yarn 202 being interlinked with other yarns of the tape 21to provide a stringer ofa coil fastener construction.

In a typical sliding clasp fastener employed for dresses, the lapping ofthe yarn 20e is so arranged that three courses of the tape are knittedto each pitch of the coupling elements the yarn 20e lapping the tubularguide twice in every three courses so that two loops of the yarn 202 areformed between every two coupling elements,

In a second embodiment, FIG. 11, a four guide bar warpknitting machineis employed, with parts similar to those in the first embodiment denotedby the same reference numbers. In the second embodiment, a tubular guide30 is fixedly mounted in a bar 31 secured between end frames of themachine. The lower end of the tubular guide is located at apredetermined position adjacent a longitudinal edge of the tape 21 atthe knitting zone and the guide is inclined forwardly of the machine.The guides 12a, 12b and are employed for the knitting of the basicstructure of the tape 21. To the front of the tubular guide 30 a yarnguide holder 32 carries a single yarn guide 33 which is directedrearwardly of the machine.

In use, the yarn guide 33 swings forwardly and rearwardly of the machineat each side of the tubular guide 30 and laps a yarn around a needle 11at each end of a lapping motion across the front of the guide 30.

In a modification of either of the above embodiments, a series ofcoupling elements without an internal cord is knitted in, in which casethe yarn from guide l2e is engaged directly with parts of the filamentwhich interconnect successive coupling elements of the series.

While the above embodiments have been described in relation to coilfastener constructions, it will be apparent that other fastenerconstructions, such as meander fastener constructions, for example, mayalso be made by the present invention.

The above embodiments have been described in relation tomachines-employing latch-type knitting needles but the invention mayalso be performed with machines using bearded type or compound typeneedles.

We claim:

1. A method of making a sliding clasp fastener stringer comprisingwarp-knitting a carrier tape, locating a series of interconnectedcoupling elements adjacent a longitudinal edge of the tape as it isbeing knitted, and securing the series of elements to the tape duringknitting by knitting at least one yarn in the tape and passing said yarnat least partially around elements of the series and interlinking saidyarn with other yarns of the tape in the vicinity of the series.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the series of coupling elementsis of coil fastener construction.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the series of coupling elementsis of meander fastener construction.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein a cord or braid is disposedbetween arms of the coupling elements and extends longitudinally of theseries of elements.

5. A method according to claim I wherein the series of coupling elementsis guided to its position adjacent an edge of the tape being knittedthrough a tubular guide and a knitting yarn is passed at least partiallyaround the guide so that during casting off a portion of the yarn slipsfrom the tubular guide to a position between two adjacent couplingelements of the series so as to secure said two elements to the tape.

6. A warp-knitting machine for making a sliding clasp fastener stringer,the machine having a knitting zone and comprising a row of knittingneedles for knitting a carrier tape of the stringer, a plurality ofguide bars each carrying yarn guides, and a tubular guide having a lowerend disposed to guide a series of interconnected coupling elements to apredetermined position in the knitting zone adjacent one end of the rowof knitting needles with at least one of the knitting needles beingdisposed on one side of the tubular guide and with the other needles onthe other side when considered in the lapping direction, and at leastone of the guide bars being disposed to swing and lap its yarn guidesbehind the tubular guide while at least one other guide bar is disposedto lap at least one yarn guide in front of the tubular guide and acrossneedles disposed on each side of the tubular guide and to swing the yarnguide past the lower end of the tubular guide on each side thereof.

7. A machine according to claim 6 wherein the tubular guide is operablyconnected to a guide bar mechanism of the machine whereby the tubularguide is caused to move in a swinging direction about a position beyondthe lower end of movement of the knitting needles and the guide bar ofthe at least one yam guide is operable to move the yarn guide on aswinging and lapping motion around needles disposed on each side of thetubular guide while moving the yarn guide around 9. A machine accordingto claim 6 wherein the tubular 5 the tubular guideguide is supported ina fixed position relative to the plane of

1. A method of making a sliding clasp fastener stringer comprisingwarp-knitting a carrier tape, locating a series of interconnectedcoupling elements adjacent a longitudinal edge of the tape as it isbeing knitted, and securing the series of elements to the tape duringknitting by knitting at least one yarn in the tape and passing said yarnat least partially around elements of the series and interlinking saidyarn with other yarns of the tape in the vicinity of the series.
 2. Amethod according to claim 1 wherein the series of coupling elements isof coil fastener construction.
 3. A method according to claim 1 whereinthe series of coupling elements is of meander fastener construction. 4.A method according to claim 2 wherein a cord or braid is disposedbetween arms of the coupling elements and extends longitudinally of theseries of elements.
 5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the seriesof coupling elements is guided to its position adjacent an edge of thetape being knitted through a tubular guide and a knitting yarn is passedat least partially around the guide so that during casting off a portionof the yarn slips from the tubular guide to a position between twoadjacent coupling elements of the series so as to secure said twoelements to the tape.
 6. A warp-knitting machine for making a slidingclasp fastener stringer, The machine having a knitting zone andcomprising a row of knitting needles for knitting a carrier tape of thestringer, a plurality of guide bars each carrying yarn guides, and atubular guide having a lower end disposed to guide a series ofinterconnected coupling elements to a predetermined position in theknitting zone adjacent one end of the row of knitting needles with atleast one of the knitting needles being disposed on one side of thetubular guide and with the other needles on the other side whenconsidered in the lapping direction, and at least one of the guide barsbeing disposed to swing and lap its yarn guides behind the tubular guidewhile at least one other guide bar is disposed to lap at least one yarnguide in front of the tubular guide and across needles disposed on eachside of the tubular guide and to swing the yarn guide past the lower endof the tubular guide on each side thereof.
 7. A machine according toclaim 6 wherein the tubular guide is operably connected to a guide barmechanism of the machine whereby the tubular guide is caused to move ina swinging direction about a position beyond the lower end of the tubeguide and between knitting needles of the machine in synchronism withswinging movements of the yarn guides.
 8. A machine according to claim 7wherein the tubular guide is pivotally connected to a yarn guide of themachine.
 9. A machine according to claim 6 wherein the tubular guide issupported in a fixed position relative to the plane of movement of theknitting needles and the guide bar of the at least one yarn guide isoperable to move the yarn guide on a swinging and lapping motion aroundneedles disposed on each side of the tubular guide while moving the yarnguide around the tubular guide.